2011 – Page 10 – Guyana Times International

CAL crash probe report to be ready in three months – TT official

December 15, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Investigations into Caribbean Airlines Limited Flight BW 523 which crashed in Guyana on July 30 have now turned to analysing simulations done of the aircraft when it crash-landed. The simulations that were done were based on data retrieved from the flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), explained Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General, Ramesh Lutchmedial. The aircraft touched down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport in rainy conditions, overshot the runway and split in half on stopping. No fatalities were recorded. There was…

CAL launches direct flight between Guyana and Barbados

December 15, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) is working towards self-sufficiency and surviving without a fuel subsidy by the end of next year, the Trinidad Express reported on Tuesday. With new projects on stream, including new routes and a “Jet-Pack” courier service, CAL Chairman George Nicholas said the drive toward more profitability will continue into the next fiscal year. Nicholas was speaking at the launch of CAL direct flights between Barbados and Guyana and the introduction of a St Lucia service at the company’s head office in Piarco, Trinidad on Monday. Nicholas, who…

Brazil sends congratulatory message to President Ramotar

December 15, 2011 TIMES INT'L

President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, in a congratulatory message to newly-elected Guyanese President Donald Ramotar reaffirmed her government’s commitment towards the continued strengthening of ties of cooperation and friendship which unite the peoples of both nations. She also reiterated Brazil’s determination to continue working with Guyana in favour of regional integration, particularly within the context of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), the Brazilian embassy message stated. Since the swearing in of President Ramotar early in December, messages of congratulations and affirmations of continued bilateral…

Roll-on/roll-off ferries likely to dock before Christmas – Chinese Ambassador

December 15, 2011 TIMES INT'L

The two new roll-on/ roll-off ferries Guyana purchased from China are likely to dock before Christmas, according to Chinese Ambassador Yu Wenzhe, who paid a courtesy call on President Donald Ramotar on Monday at the Office of the President. The ferries are at present anchored in neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago awaiting completion of the Parika Stelling overhaul that will make way for the accommodation of the two large oceangoing vessels, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said in a release. The contract for the design and construction of the two vessels…

Blairmont sugar workers protest non-payment

December 15, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Cane harvesters attached to the Blairmont sugar estate who were required to cut and load cane at the Rose Hall estate were on Tuesday blocked from entering that estate by harvesters there. Guyana Times International understands that the Blairmont sugar workers protested outside the office of the administrative manager, Anil Seepersaud in a bid to recover wages for the day. The cane harvesters attached to the Rose Hall estate are contending that they will not allow the harvesters of Blairmont estate to “cut out brought-forward cane” (cane which was cut much…

Over 500 graduate from BIT

December 15, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Five hundred and four persons graduated from the Board of Industrial Training’s National Training Project for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE) and single parent programme at a ceremony at the National Cultural Centre. This batch of graduates brings the yearly total to 1995 graduates. The training institution can boast a 97 graduating percent for the year. President Donald Ramotar addressed the graduates and told them he could not be more proud of their efforts and accomplishments. The president gave a brief history of the NTPYE, stating that under former President Bharrat Jagdeo,…

Bouterse to chair Caricom from January

December 15, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Incoming Chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Desi Bouterse, the president of Suriname, on Monday welcomed Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque on the first day of the SG’s official visit to Paramaribo. President Bouterse becomes Caricom chairman on January 1, 2012 and will hold the position for six months. He will succeed Dr Denzil Douglas, prime minister of St Kitts and Nevis and current Caricom chairman, the Caricom Secretariat said in a release. The secretary general had earlier met Surinamese Vice President Robert Ameerali and Foreign Minister Winston Lakin. Among…

Canadian Minister compliments Guyanese organisation in Toronto

December 15, 2011 TIMES INT'L

By North American Correspondent The Ontario Minister of Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney complimented the Guyanese managed Vishnu Mandir at a recent reception to honour outstanding individuals in the community. The Vishnu Mandir, which is a construct of the Voice of Vedas institution in Canada, has been doing work primarily among Caribbean and South Asian immigrants in Canada. Praising the organization, Minister Kenney told a large gathering: “I cannot think of another institution that has contributed to Canadian society more than the Vishnu Mandir. It begins in the ancient…

N.Y.- based Guyanese observe Gita Jayanthi

December 15, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, Gita Jayanthi or day of revelation of the holy Bhagavad-Gita, the sacred text of Hindus, was observed on Tuesday December 6 by Hindus in New York. Hindus of Guyanese origin in the U.S. have been celebrating this festival since the 1990s after establishing a large community in the tri-state area. The Holy Gita was written some 6,000 years ago and is thought to be the oldest holy book in the universe. It is a fundamental scripture of Hinduism. Gita Jayanti is celebrated worldwide by all Hindus (followers of…

Jagdeo’s leadership of the armed forces is unmatched

December 15, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, There has been much talk about President Bharrat Jagdeo’s tenure as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. Opposition politicians have accused the president and some ministers of government of deliberately trying to influence the work of the security agencies. They have even accused government of not providing the kind of resources needed for the law enforcement agencies to carry out their work. This is very far removed from the truth, as a simple check will show that the budgetary allocations to the police, army, and fire services were increased…